According to the panel, a flag must also be “timeless,” “so simple it can be drawn by a child from memory,” and “[communicate] swiftly and potently the essence of the country it represents.”

Many of the finalists include a silver fern or the koru, a spiral based on the shape of an unfurling silver fern frond, which Key has argued represents New Zealand as strongly as the maple leaf represents Canada. Other designs used some variation of the British Union Jack, or the constellation of stars known as the southern cross.

None of the Quartz staff will be voting on the new flag. Nevertheless, here are 10 of our favorites.

“Black Jack,” designed by Mike Davison. (New Zealand Government)

Three things to like about “Black Jack,” in the words of one government panelist: It’s “black and not blue so it won’t be mistaken for the Australian flag”; it unifies the Union Jack and the koru; and “it looks cool and black flags are rare.”

“Manawa” is described as “simple and punchy“: “The night sky. The Southern Cross. The long white cloud/whitecaps. The green of the land and sea. All with a strong Māori design element tying it together.”

“Southern Koru,” by Sven Baker. (New Zealand Government)

“Southern Koru” comes with this flowery description: “The koru represents new life and harmony and forms a wave in the negative space that represents the oceans that surround our land and Kupe’s journey across them guided by the stars to arrive in Aotearoa.”

The prime minister’s favorite design was reported to be a silver fern on a black background, like the one above. It’s similar to the logo of the All Blacks, the national rugby team, but one flag expert said this design could easily be mistaken for an ISIL banner.